Hydrocarbon-burner.



B. L. WORTHEN.

HYDROGARBON BURNER.

, APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 12, 1904. 958,789. Patented May 24, 1910.

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Vi FOR fLHME 1 ATTORNEYS R ANDREW B. GRAHAM C0.,?HOTO-UTH OGRAPHERS. WASHINGTON, D a

B. L. WORTHEN'. HYDROCARBON BURNER.

APPLICATION rum) NOV. 12, 1904..

Patented May 24, 1910.

3 SHEETS-4314B? 2.

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lwmron ,Ziwfi Z]. 7702Z7l6m ATTORNEYS B. L. WORTHBN.

HYDROCARBON BURNER.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 12, 1904.

958,789. Patented May 24, 1910.

3 SHEETB-BHEET 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BURT L. WORTI-IEN, OF TUCSON, ARIZONA TERRITORY, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE KEMP HYDRO-CARBON FURNACE COMPANY, A COR- PORATION OF NEW YORK.

HYDROCARBON-BURNER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BURT L. WORTHEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tucson, in the county of Pima and Territory of Arizona, have made certain new and useful Improvements in Hydrocarbon-Burners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to hydrocarbon burners, and it consists substantially in the improvements hereinafter particularly described.

The invention is adapted for various purposes in the arts, and one of the principal objects thereof is to provide a hydrocarbon burner in which crude oil, associated or combined with air, steam or other aeriform fluid, is most economically and effectively utilized in the production of a flame developing the maximum of units of heat and of force possessing the maximum of intensity.

A further object is to provide a hydrocarbon burner in which crude oil, either with or without the accompaniment of air, steam or other aeriform fluid, is thoroughly disintegrated or atomized; and also, in which the supply of oil to the burner, as well as the supply of the combustible mixture at the place of ignition thereof, is easily controlled or regulated.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a hydrocarbon burner, comprising comparatively few parts or elements, and which is effective and reliable in operation, besides being comparatively inexpensive to manufacture, and possessing the capacity for long and repeated service.

Still further, itis an object of the invention to provide means whereby the burner is kept cool in operation, without the deposit of carbon or other sediment thereon, and without the burner becoming clogged up.

The above and additional objects are at tained bv means substantially such as are illustratedin the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of a hydrocarbon burner, embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a sectional View in detail on the line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line G-O, Fig. 1,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 12, 1904.

Patented May 24, 1910.

Serial No. 232,486.

and Fig. 5 is a similar view taken on the line D- -D of Fig. 1.

Before proceeding with a more detailed description, it may be stated that in the form of my improvements herein shown, means are employed for introducing oil and air (or other aeriform fluid) under pressure into a specially constructed mixing chamber therefor, special means being also employed for atomizing the oil, the atomized oil and air being thoroughly commingled in the mixing chamber, thence passing through special atomizing devices therefor, to the burner proper. At the burner proper, special means are employed for spreading the combustible admixture, within certain limits, and for imparting a given direction (either forward or upward, or at an inclination, according to the position of the burner) to practically the entire volume thereof, within the same limits, as will be hereinafter explained, thus to derive the full force and effect of the flame when projected into or against a body or mass, or a particular portion thereof, as a body or mass of ore, for instance, in a reducing furnace. It may also be stated that in the form of my im provements herein shown, special means are employed for supplying air to the burner independently of that which enters the mixing chamber with the oil, since in some in stances it is desirable that the air shall be greatly in excess of the atomized oil, this extra supply, however, being preferably under atmospheric rather than abnormal pres sure.

WVhile I have herein represented my improvements in a certain improved embodiment, it will of course be understood that I am not limited to the precise details thereof in practice, since immaterial changes therein may be resorted to, coming within the scope of my invention.

Reference being had to the accompanying drawings by the designating characters marked thereon, 1 represents my improved hydrocarbon burner in entirety, the same comprising an outer casing 2 having a flanged head 3 from which extends forwardly the wall 4 of the casing, flanged at its rearward end and secured to the flange of said head 3, said wall being turned inwardly at 5 for a suitable extent, and having secured to or integral therewith the inner concentric wall 6, terminating rearwardly with a head 7 provided with a cen- 5 tral opening 8 around the edge of which is a forwardly projecting collar 9. The distance bet-ween the heads 3 and 7 and the walls 4 and 6 is such as to form a commodious air chamber 10, receiving its supply 10 of atmospheric air through an inlet pipe 11 fitted in an opening in the upper part of wall 4 of said chamber as indicated at 12, said air inlet pipe being ordinarily provided with a regulating or controlling valve 13 as shown. The said head 3 of the outer casing 2 is formed or provided with substantially a concentric forwardly extending hollow member 14 having an inwardly extending flange 15 at the inner end thereof, and fitting in the opening formed by said flange, and extending rearwardly of the structure, for a suitable distance, is the externally threaded hollow member 16, forming preferably an integral part of an inner casing about to be described. Extending into the chamber 16 formed by the forwardly extending hollow member 14, and screwing upon the said externally threaded hollow member 16, is an interiorly threaded follower 17 provided with an annular flange 18 for closing said chamber, said flange being preferably provided in its outer surface with diametrically opposite notches 19 for the reception of pins or projections on a wrench which may be employed for screwing the follower into place. Supported within the said follower and the externally threaded hollow member 16 is an air tube 20 which is of a length to extend a considerable distance rearwardly of the head 3, said air tube having further support within the upper extremity of a curved air trunk 21 having the lower end thereof provided with a flange 22 through which suitable bolts 23 are inserted for securing the trunk to the said head 3. This air trunk 21 is in communication with the air chamber 10 of the structure, and it may be stated that a suitable packing 24 is employed beyond the inner end of the member 16 within the follower 17. As is apparent, said follower may be readily adjusted upon the member 16, as occasion may require. The forward end of the air tube 20 is provided with a deflector 25, having the form of the segment of a hollow sphere, as shown, the central portion thereof being cut out or removed so as to form a communicating opening 26 leading from the interior of the said air tube 20.

The inner casing hereinbefore mentioned, is indicated as an entirety at 27 it having also been previously mentioned that the externally threaded hollow member 16 forms a part thereof. Also forming practically an integral part of this inner casing, is a for wardly extending tubular member 28, which is substantially concentric with the corresponding portion of the air tube 20, a space 29 being provided between this tubular member and the said portion of the air tube. The tubular member 28 fits closely within the opening 8, formed by the collar 9 of the outer casing of the structure, and the end thereof is formed with an outward bevel 30 leading from the inner surface of the member the convex face of the deflector on the air tube being disposed adjacent to said bevel 30, as shown.

intersecting with the opposing extremities of the hollow member 16 and the forwardly extending tubular member 28 is a hollow pendent internally threaded neck 31 within which works a threaded plug 32, and similarly intersecting the members referred to are the vertical portions 33 and 34 of the g5 walls of a mixing chamber 35, said portion 33 being integral with a rearwardly extending internally threaded hollow portion 36 of said walls, the upper wall of the said mixing chamber being indicated at 37 and intersecting with the said wall portion 34. The portion 36 is extended upwardly as indicated at 38, to form a small chamber 39 into which oil under pressure is first introduced through a pipe 40, passing through an opening 41 in the head 3 and having the inner threaded extremity 42 thereof screwing into an opening therefor in a por- IZion 43 of the said wall of the mixing cham- Screwing within the internally threaded portion 36 of the wall of the mixing chamber 35, is an outer injector 44, having communication with the chamber 39, and formed at its outer extremity with a flange 44 for closing the opening 45 provided in the head 3 of the structure for the introduction of said injector. Fitted within the injector 44 at 47 is another injector 48, the outer extremity of which is formed or provided with a head or flange 49 in which is fitted the screw threaded extremity of a pipe 50 for introducing air under pressure to the inner injector. A space 51 (communicating with chamber 39) is provided between the two injectors, it being observed that the contracted open ends of the latter are disposed directly opposite the apex of a conical member 52 secured to or mounted upon the inner face of the portion 34 of the wall of the mixing chamber 35, said conical member being capable of adjustment with reference to the inner projecting ends of the injectors, by a nut 52.

The inner surface of the portions 33 and 34 of the wall of the mixing chamber is screw threaded at 53 for the reception of an externally threaded hollow member 54 in the upper part of which are supported in superposed manner a plurality of finely re- 1 .30

ticulated screens 55, forming a device for atomizing the oil and air previous to the passing of the same from the mixing chamber to the annular space 29 between the tubular member 28 and the corresponding portion of the air tube 20. This hollow member 54 is inserted in place previous to the insertion of the tube 20, by removing the plug 32 from the internally threaded neck 31 of the inner casing 27, and passing the member through said neck, the member being provided with suitable oppositely disposed apertures 56 for the reception of corresponding projections on a wrench. The inner surface of that part of the inner casing 27 which lies above the plug 32 is formed on each side of the air tube with an upwardly and forwardly extending groove 57, the upper extremity of which terminates or leads to the space 29 between the tube 20 and the tubular member 28, said grooves serving as conductors for the mixture passing from the mixing chamber, it being noted that there is an opening at 58 through which some of the mixture may pass to the space 29 after leaving the atom izing devices 55.

The rearward portion of the air tube 20 is externally screw threaded at 59, and mount ed thereon an internally threaded hub 60 provided with an operating handle 61 on which is pivoted at 62 a lever 63 having the shorter arm thereof provided with a dog 6%, the longer arm of said lever being normally pressed outwardly by a spring 65. The said hub is preferably provided at opposite points thereof with lateral extensions 66, to which are secured the angular members 67, the portions 68 of which peripherally embrace a disk 69, rigid with the trunk 21 said disk being formed integral with air trunk 21 and circumferentially with teeth 70 between which the dog 64 of the said lever is adapted to be received, so as to lock the hub and its handle upon the tube after they have been operated for the purpose of adjusting the tube forwardly or rearwardly. The bore of the disk 69 is provided with a feather or key 71 which fits within a longitudinal groove 72 formed in the air tube, see Fig. 1, and it is apparent that by grasping the handle 61 of the hub and pressing upon the lever 63, so as to release the dog 64 from engagement with the teeth of the disk 69, and then turning the handle and hub in the proper direction, the desired adjustment of the tube 20 may be effected. The rearward end of said air tube is closed by a cap 73 having therein a peep-hole or opening 7% properly closed within the cap by means of a suitable transparent medium 7 5, as a plate of glass.

From the foregoing it will be seen that on introducing oil and air into the mixing chamber under pressure, through the injectors, the said combustible agents will be forcibly projected against the conical member 52 so that the oil will be completely disintegrated, the combustible admixture thence passing to the atomizing devices 55, to and around that portion of the air tube adjacent to the grooves 57, said grooves delivering the mixture to the space 29 in practically a gyrating or whirling form and with great velocity, the atomizing of the mixture bc ing most complete at the place of ignition thereof. During this operation atmospheric air is passing into the chamber 10 through the pipe 11, and this atmospheric air is supplied to the interior of the air tube 20 through the trunk 21, the latter having communication with the said air tube at 80. If it is desired at any time to simply burn the mixture that is taken from the mixing chamber, without the addition of the air passing through the air tube from chamber 10, it is necessary to close the valve in the delivery pipe 11, but for all practical purposes, the additional supply of air is preferred. By giving to the deflector 25 the form of the segment of a sphere, and disposing the convex face of the same adjacent to the bevel 30 at the end of the tubular member 28, the combustible gaseous admixture is caused to be discharged for ignition to a limited extent only, while the flame of said admixture has imparted thereto a given direction for practically the entire volume thereof.

In order to add to the general efiiciency of my improved hydrocarbon burner, I form the wall 6 with semicylindrical or arcuate slots 82, located within the forward extremity of the collar 9 or rearwardly of the forward end of the burner proper. During the operation of the burner, some of the atmospheric air entering the chamber 10 through the inlet pipe 11, passes out through the said slots 82 and combines with the combustible admixture issuing from the space 29 as well as with the air issuing from the interior of the air tube.

From the foregoing it will be seen that my improved hydrocarbon. burner comprises a plurality of gaseous fluid supplies, under different pressures, together with an oil supply combined with one of said gaseous fluid supplies, thereby forming a mixture of the two, and means for projecting said mixture a distance from the burner proper, before combining with sufficient oxygen to produce the desired character of flame.

By properly regulating the pressure and temperature of air the actual conversion of the admixture into flame occurs some dis tance in advance of the deflector 25, and I have found that under these conditions the exit for the combustible admixture from the space 29 may be either increased or reduced within certain limits, without in any manner interfering with the flame.

The space 81 within the walls 6, practically constitutes a combustion chamber, being extended beyond the burner proper, as shown; and it is apparent that the air passing into the chamber 10, from the atmos phere, serves to cool all adjacent portions of the structure, and thus prevents undue deterioration thereof.

I have discovered that when the deflector 25 is given the particular shape indicated, to wit, that of the segment of a hollow sphere, and the adjustments of the inlets of the oil and air are properly made, the combustible admixture, upon coming in contact with deflector 25, is caused to roll forward over the outer curved surface thereof and leave the extreme end of the deflector in a reverse conical shape, that is to say, the combustible admixture is controlled by the semi-spherical shape of deflector 25 so that it does not spread out radially beyond certain limits, and thus does not come in contact with the metallic walls 6, or other parts, but is, in a sense, focused so asto travel outwardly until flashed into a perfect flame by coming in contact with the air supplied by tube 20 at opening 26 and air diverted outwardly by collar 9 coming from chamber 10 through the semi-circumferential or arcuate slots 82, formed in the walls 6, the result being that the combustible admixture travels suspended in the air until supplied with sufficient oxygen to make perfect combustion, which prevents condensation or the forming of carbon by the mixture coming in contact with metallic surfaces. I have also discovered that air or steam or both combined with the oil and converted into a combustible admixture by my improved burner, does notflash to a flame immediately at the end of deflector 25 but travels from one to two inches outwardly before combustion takes place, with a result of complete protection to deflector 25 and tubular member 28 from overheating or deterioration by the flame. Then these desirable conditions just described are obtained, the deflector 25 may be adjusted so as to vary opening 30 within certain limits without interfering with the flame. While I have herein shown the deflector 25 to be substantially of the form of the segment of a hollow sphere, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to this form, since other forms may be resorted to in some instances with equal results.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A hydrocarbon burner, comprising a mixing-chamber for oil and air, means for atomizing the oil within said chamber, a burner proper constructed of an outer tube and an inner tube, with a space between the two, and a support for a portion of the inner tube, having means for receiving the combustible admixture from the mixing-chamber, and provided with forwardly and upwardly extending grooves on opposite sides of said inner tube, for delivering the combustible admixture to said space.

2. A hydrocarbon burner, comprising a mixing chamber, an air-chamber external thereto, a burner proper having an air tube forming part thereof, and means for delivering air to said tube from said air-chamber, the same also constituting an external support for the tube, the walls of the mixingchamber having an extension forming an inner support for the tube.

3. A hydrocarbon burner, comprising a mixing-chamber, an air-chamber inclosing the same and having communication with the atmosphere, a burner proper having an air tube forming part thereof, and means of communication between the air-chamber and the air-tube, the same also constituting an outer support for the tube, the walls of the mixing-chamber having an extension forming an inner support for the tube.

4. A hydrocarbon burner, comprising a mixing-chamber, an air-chamber inclosing the same and having communication with the atmosphere, a burner proper having an air tube forming part thereof, and means of communication between the air-chamber and the air-tube, the same also constituting an outer support for the tube,'the walls of the mixing-chamber having an extension forming an inner support for the tube, and the air-tube being provided with adjusting devices.

5. A hydrocarbon burner, comprising a mixing chamber having the walls thereof extended to form a branch of said chamber, means for supplying oil and a gaseous fluid under pressure to said mixing chamber to form a combustible mixture, an atomizing device for the combustible mixture located within said branch, a burner proper constructed of outer and inner tubes, with a space between the two, and means for delivering the combustible mixture from said device to said space.

6. A hydrocarbon burner, comprising a mixing chamber, a burner proper constructed of outer and inner tubes, with a space between the two, and a support for a portion of the inner tube, adjacent to the mixing chamber, said support having means on either side of and closely adjacent to said portion of the inner tube, for delivering a combustible admixture from the mixing chamber to said space under a whirling action.

7. A hydrocarbon burner, comprising a mixing chamber having the walls thereof extended to form a branch of said chamber, an atomizing device located within said branch, a burner proper constructed of outer and inner tubes, with a space between the two, and

means for delivering a combustible mixture from said device to said space, said atomizing device being constructed of a hollow member supporting one or more reticulated bodies.

8. A hydrocarbon burner, comprising a mixing chamber, an air chamber external thereto, having a forwardly extending wall, and an inner and rearwardly extending shorter wall connecting therewith, a head provided with a central opening, and con nected to the rearward end of said shorter wall, a burner proper projecting through said opening, and means for delivering a combustible mixture to said burner proper, said last mentioned wall having arcuate slots therein.

9. A hydrocarbon burner, comprising a burner proper having an air tube forming part thereof, the said air tube having a threaded portion, and mounted in a suitable support, said portion being formed with a longitudinal groove, a hub on said portion, having a handle, and provided with a spring-actuated lever carrying a dog, and a peripherally notched disk on the support, for engagement by said dog, said disk having a feather fitting said groove, and said hub being provided with members embracing portions of the disk.

10. A hydrocarbon burner, comprising a mixing chamber, an air chamber inclosing the same, and having communication with the atmosphere, a burner proper having an air tube forming part thereof, and means of communication between the air chamber and the air tube, the wall of said air chamber having substantially arcuate slots therein for delivering air to the burner around the operative end thereof.

11. A hydrocarbon burner, comprising a mixing chamber, an air chamber external thereto, having a forwardly extending wall and an inner and rearwardly extending shorter wall connecting therewith, a head provided with a central opening and connected to the rearward end of said shorter wall, a burner proper projecting through said opening, and means formed in an extension of the mixing chamber on opposite sides of the burner proper for delivering a combustible admixture to said burner proper, said shorter wall having arcuate slots therein.

12. A hydrocarbon burner, comprising an outer casing, an inner casing, a mixing chamber within the inner casing, means for supplying oil and air thereto under pressure, means in said chamber for atomizing the oil, an outer tube extending forward from said inner casing and an inner air tube with a space between the two, the inner casing forming a support for a portion of the inner tube and provided on its inner surface with grooves for conducting the combustible admixture to said space from the mixing chamber, the operative end of said inner tube being provided with a deflector of greater diameter than the external diameter of the tube, the said deflector having a concave inner face and a convex outer face, the outer face having the form of the segment of a hollow sphere, for causing a discharge of the admixture from about and beyond the tube within'definite radial limits.

13. A hydrocarbon burner, comprising an outer casing forming an air chamber, an inner casing forming a mixing chamber and having a forwardly extending tubular member, an air tube extending through the inner casing and the tubular member and spaced from said tubular member, the inner tube being provided at its discharge end with a deflector having the form of the segment of a hollow sphere, and means for delivering air to said air tube from said air chamber, the said means also serving as an outer sup port for the air tube, the said inner casing being provided with passageways for conducting the combustible admixture from said mixing chamber to the space between the air tube and said tubular member.

14:. A hydrocarbon burner, comprising an outer casing forming an air chamber, an inner casing forming a mixing chamber and having a forwardly extending tubular member forming the outer tube for the burner proper, an air tube extending through the said outer tube and spaced therefrom and partly supported by the said inner casing, the forward end of said tube being provided with a deflector having substantially. the form of the segment of a hollow sphere, and means for atomizing the oil within said mixing chamber, the inner casing being provided with grooves at each side of the air tube for conducting the mixture passing from the mixing chamber to the space between the air tube and the said tubular member of the inner casing.

BURT L. WORTHEN. Witnesses C. A. BLrss, T. F. SEAMAN. 

